Japanese Martini line thrower/harpoon gun

[breakeyp]

My Japanese line thrower with cast iron buttstock. Action is based on the British Martini. Caliber/cartrige is a shorter case length of a .577 cartridge. Note pendulum ball rear sight to assure 45 degree angle during firing. It came with harpoon for fishing but I image it also had a line throwing rod as well. Receiver is marked KFC, who retailed sporting good in Japan and eventually got into munitions.

[Brian Keith]

I saw one of these in a private museum collection several years ago. That collection has been dispersed now. I was able to handle and photograph it. Same KFC marking. The story was that it came off a Japanese submarine and was used to fish for dolphin for food. Very heavy due to the construction.
BKW

[breakeyp]

How strange. I believe this is the one you saw in the museum. Your details match what I was told when I bought it.